Posted on 10/26/2006 7:06:51 PM PDT by Coleus
New Jerseyans have always known they were surrounded by history. Now, it's official. President Bush signed legislation yesterday designating a large swath of the Garden State "the Crossroads of the American Revolution National Heritage Area." It will provide $10 million in federal funding over the next 15 years to preserve and promote Revolutionary War sites throughout the state.
It also recognizes that "New Jersey was critically important during the American Revolution because of the strategic location of the state between the British armies headquartered in New York City, N.Y., and the Continental Congress in the City of Philadelphia, Pa."
"Gen. George Washington spent almost half of the period of the American Revolution personally commanding troops of the Continental Army in the state of New Jersey," the law states. It adds that 296 military engagements, including "crucial battles at Trenton and Princeton," were fought here. Gov. Jon Corzine, who supported the legislation as a U.S. senator, said, "This bill is a tribute to the patriots who fought and died to establish a country that values freedom and individual rights. We now have the necessary tools to protect those places that commemorate their sacrifice."
The designated heritage area stretches across all or parts of 15 counties, from Fort Lee in Bergen County to the shore of the Delaware River at Red Bank Battlefield in Gloucester County. It encompasses Monmouth Battlefield, Washington's Crossing, Princeton Battlefield and Morristown National Historic Park, which will serve as a headquarters for preservation and educational efforts. U.S. Reps. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.) and Rush Holt (D-12th Dist.) kicked off the preservation effort in 2000 when they asked the National Park Service to conduct a feasibility study on a heritage area for the state.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
Seems that roada are not the only thing getting crossed these days.
Cool.
U.S. Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen is related to the Frelinghuysens who were, member of the Continental Congress, reverend to the Continental Army, and soldiers and officers in the Continental Army.
So this is a personal quest for the Rep.
Revolutionary War Ping List!
A toast and a posthumous thank you...to my Morris County, New Jersey ancestors, who fought for the Revolution.
George Washington at Princeton by Charles Willson Peale
He was feeling a bit cocky after Trenton and Princeton, and you can see it in his countenance. You can also see Nassau Hall in the background (the largest building in the colonies at the time of the Revolution) and it is used by the administration at Princeton University to this day.
Thanks, Coleus, for the post and ping. Rodney Frelinghuysen (R-11th Dist.) is my congresscritter. I consider myself lucky.
RevWar/Colonial History/General Washington ping list (FreepMail me if you want to be placed on or taken off the list)
Descended from one of the oldest families in the state.
I only recently found out that Tom Kean is a descendant of Hamilton Fish.
And I thank YOU for having such excellent ancestors. I owe them and their fellow patriots that I am now live in Morris County.
I wish I had Rod. Instead, I have Albio "Benito Arnaldo" Siries, while Rush Holt represents the area where I work.
Crossroads of the Revolution--that was the motto on the bicentennial NJ license plates thirty years ago.
I forgot to complete my edits before I posted. "Live" should be "living."
ROFL...I read "living."
One of the things I look forward to during the Christmas season is riding up to Washington Crossing (I live about ten minutes away) and watching the re-enactment. Anybody who studies Washington for more than a half an hour can't help but come away with the knowledge that he was our greatest founder and the obvious choice for the greatest leader this country has ever known.
By the way, another absolutely astounding biography to read is that of William Penn. Check the web and find the short version - - you can only shake your head in admiration for what great men back then were capable of.
Great article, Pharmboy.
Nice timing on this. I didn't read much about this, but I know that the 75th birthday of the George Washington Bridge was a day or two ago. I used to work in Fort Lee. There's a Food Emporium that has pictures from when the bridge was being built.
Morris County is red country.
Of course, it now looks as though I'll have either Pallone or Holt as my congresscritter when I move. I really know how to pick 'em, I know...
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.